Strickland tract purchase overwhelmingly approved

MIDDLEFIELD -- Voters overwhelmingly supported the purchase of the 45.4-acre Strickland Road parcel for $495,000 by a margin of four to one in Tuesday's referendum.

ROB VARNON

Published
12:00 am EST, Wednesday, November 29, 2000

Exactly 767 of the 957 people who cast ballots thought that protecting the one time dairy farm was more important than having more houses. Dan Doty, who voted on the question, said "Protecting open space is a great thing because towns get continually overdeveloped."

Rob Dudko Chairman of the Open Space Committee, said "the numbers show there's a widespread support in the community for protecting open space." He said protecting that space made economic, environmental and good fiscal sense.

Many of those exiting the polls agreed with Dudko, but there were some that raised concerns over who and how the issue was presented.

One long-time resident of Middlefield said "the irony of who is supporting this is not lost on the community. The vocal majority of supporters for this purchase built their homes on what should have been protected open space, but now they want to protect the remaining open space." He explained it was okay for those people to come in and build but not anyone else. This same man however said he supported the purchase anyway.

STRICKLAND

Augur addressed this concern right after the count saying, "You have to stop the development at sometime. You have to draw the line somewhere and say not this property."

Augur also said he would move on closing the deal as soon as possible. "I'll make the necessary calls tomorrow."

Augur added that the backing from the community was a result of a grass roots campaign. "I was amazed at the efforts of these people to get the message out." Augur was particularly impressed with Martin Smith who organized a political action committee to urge support for the referendum.

Smith, and the many volunteers, spent many hours calling people, preparing flyers, and posting signs. Augur also commended the patience of the Strickland family, saying, "I'd like to thank the Stricklands for keeping the offer open. They've been absolutely magnanimous in taking public criticism."

But several people who voted voiced concern over some of the economic arguments presented at the many informational meetings prior to the referendum.

"Personally I had a problem with the numbers they were presenting," Brad Platt said. He said in every meeting supporters touted the tax savings of not allowing homes on that property based on the fact that each house built would have two kids.

"But not every home has kids," Platt said. "Not every home in this area sends their kids to the public school either." He added his own children attend private school.

Still, the vote of support was undeniable and Augur intends to look into more purchases in the future.

"We should be acquiring land every six months," Augur said. His goal is to create a green way in town and he said he is looking at properties along the Coginchaug River and in the southwest end of town that would "dovetail with property that Durham is looking at."

However, Dudko cautioned, "We're not going to go after each available piece of open space. We're not against development."

Dudko also mentioned there are more ways to protect open space other than outright purchase and the town should look into these.